Pressures including changing technology in the 20th century
Changes in crime in the 20th century
| Murders | Burglaries | Thefts | |
| 1900 | 312 | 3,812 | 63,604 |
| 2000 | 681 | 1,100,000 | 2,380,000 |
| 1900 | |
|---|---|
| Murders | 312 |
| Burglaries | 3,812 |
| Thefts | 63,604 |
| 2000 | |
|---|---|
| Murders | 681 |
| Burglaries | 1,100,000 |
| Thefts | 2,380,000 |
Crime rates have risen sharply in the 20th century as more crimes are being reported, recorded and detected by police.
A lot of these crimes are new, many of them associated with the development of cars, computer technology and with the growth of modern terrorism. Crimes linked with cars are now one of the most common crimes in Britain. Existing crimes have still continued, though, as we still have theft, robbery, assault and murder.
The causes of transport crime
Cars first began to be mass produced in the 1920s. By the 1930s cars were increasingly affordable to upper and middle-class people. By the end of the 20th century, there were over 25 million cars on British roads.
Cars have led to new crimes. New laws have been passed to make car driving safe for people. For example, there are now laws against drink-driving, driving without a licence or insurance, driving a car without a valid MOT, dangerous driving, speeding, and using a mobile phone whist driving.
Cars have been used to commit crimes. Cars allow criminals to get to and from the scene of a crime more quickly. Cars are used as getaway vehicles for criminals, making escape more likely. Cars have also been used as weapons in crimes such as ram-raiding.
Crimes are committed on cars. Cars are still relatively expensive items, and so money can be made from stealing cars. People often leave personal property inside cars, and this can be an easy target for thieves.
Causes of computer crime
The invention of computers has created new types of crime, and has provided criminals with new opportunities and methods of committing existing types of crime.
| New types of crime | New methods of committing crime |
| Hacking, illegally downloading music or films, phishing scams, identity theft, creating computer viruses | Cyberbullying, fraud, sexual crimes |
| New types of crime | Hacking, illegally downloading music or films, phishing scams, identity theft, creating computer viruses |
|---|---|
| New methods of committing crime | Cyberbullying, fraud, sexual crimes |
Most people now have access to a computer, a tablet or a smartphone. Mass ownership has led to instant communication for criminals, with quick access to the internet from any location. This allows criminals to commit crimes anywhere.
Drug-related crime
Since the 1960s illegal drug use has increased in Britain and this has led to an increase in many types of crime.
- There are now greater opportunities for criminals to make significant profits from growing, trafficking and selling drugs.
- Drug smuggling and distribution is a form of organised crime, ie run by a gang. These gangs often compete with each other for customers. Often the rivalry between drug gangs can lead to gang violence, gun and knife crime.
- Because drugs are addictive, drug users often resort to other crimes such as theft or burglary to provide the funds for them to buy drugs.
- Drug gangs can also be involved in other types of organised crime, such as people trafficking.
Causes of violent crime
- Increased willingness of some people to use violence. Gun crime increased 90 per cent in the decade between 1999 and 2009. Knife crime, often linked to youth gangs, also increased with 277 deaths from stabbings in England and Wales in 2008.
- Increased use of alcohol and drugs. Alcohol is often linked with violent crimes such as football hooliganism, domestic abuse, weekend brawls outside pubs/town centres. Drug addiction often leads to crimes such as muggings and robberies, some of which use weapons.
- Increased availability of guns and knives.
- Media, films, music and video games may have glamorised violent crimes.
- Gangs of rival football fans fighting each other occurred throughout the 20th century. However from the 1970s onwards, it became a particular problem and such brawls became more organised and targeted. In 1985, fighting between British and Italian fans at the Heysel Stadium in Belgium caused a wall to collapse and 39 people were killed. A special police unit, segregation of fans, and the use of CCTV have helped to control the problem.